Sperm Cramps – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments

Dr. Mujahid Jammel

MD(AM)BUMS, DAF, CHEF, PGDYT

August 27th, 2024

Sperm cramp is a non-medical term used to describe a painful or uncomfortable feeling that can affect the testicles of some men during or after ejaculation. This phenomenon is also called by the terms epididymal hypertension, semen cramps, and ejaculatory cramps, and in medical terms, it is known as post-orgasmic pain syndrome (POPS). This is a taboo topic, and so on, there is a lack of awareness. No worries, this blog post explains all about sperm cramps in four segments: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.  

What do Sperm Cramps mean?

Sperm cramps is a term that describes the painful sensation that typically arises during or after ejaculation in the genital area or lower abdomen. This pain ranges from mild to severe and lasts for some hours or even days. Some men even face Semen cramps without ejaculation, which can be confusing.

Why do sperm cramps happen?

Sperm cramps happen due to two factors that are psychological factors like Anxiety, stress, depression, or other mental health concerns, and physical factors like muscle tension, prostate-related problems, testicular issues, infections of reproductive organs, hormonal changes, and abstinence.

Sperm cramps causes

This section explains in detail each cause of sperm cramps. They are,

• Infections of Reproductive Organs
• Testicular Issues
• Muscle Tension
• Prostate Related Problem
• Psychological Factors

Infections of Reproductive Organs

Infections on reproductive organs like epididymitis (a tube that carries sperm behind the testicle) or urinary tract infections could cause pain or cramps sensation in the genital area or lower abdomen.

Testicular Issues

The condition is called testicular torsion, where the spermatic cord twists and the blood vessel supply is cut off. This condition could cause cramps or pain in the testicular pain during and after ejaculation. There are also two other testicular issues: varicocele (Enlarged veins in the scrotum) and orchitis (Inflammation of the testicles).

Muscle Tension

Whenever there are muscles contract there will be pain in the testicles area. There will also be situations where you will not know that you are having muscles contract. Also, when your pelvic floor muscles are tight, they can cause pain during ejaculation.

Prostate Related Problem

Prostate-related problems like an enlarged prostate and Inflammation of the prostate could cause pain in the genital area during ejaculation. Prostate problems could cause Semen cramps as the prostate glands are near the sperm canals.  

Psychological Factors

Various psychological factors like anxiety, stress, and depression can also cause Ejaculatory cramps or epididymal hypertension. Too much Stress, anxiety, and depression could cause pelvic floor muscles to contract and cause pain during ejaculation.

Sperm Cramps symptoms

Sperm cramps are most typically characterized based on the pain’s severity, ranging from mild, dull, or sharp p pain in one or both testicles. The other common male cramp symptoms are,

• Increased Stress
• anxiety due to sexual performance
• Pain during ejaculation
• Abdomen pain
• Pain during Sex
• Inflammatory diseases

Apart from these causes, you can identify that you are facing ejaculatory cramps most of the time by the pain during and after ejaculation in the lower abdomen and testicles. Also, there will be pain during sex, and it will lower your sexual drive.

Diagnosis of Sperm Cramps

Sperm cramps are diagnosed only after thoroughly going through physical exams, reviewing the medical history, and knowing the symptoms. Based on the severity of the semen cramps, doctors recommend the following two tests to be done, and once they gather all the information, they make a treatment plan according to your symptoms and severity.

• Ultrasound, MRI, or CT scans are done to identify the internal structure of testicles. This helps to identify any issues in structures or blockages.
• When you have infections, a urinary test is done to identify the urinary tract infection, and a blood test is done to assess hormone levels.

how to stop sperm cramps

There is no way to stop sperm cramps immediately, as it will last for hours or even days. If it lasts more than two days, then you need to consult with a sexologist or urologist to get treated for semen cramps. 

How to prevent sperm cramps?

You can’t stop sperm cramps. But you can prevent yourself from getting affected by this ejaculatory cramps condition. They are mentioned below,

• Wear supportive underwear: Wear underwear that is loose enough and not tight, as tight underwear will stop blood flow and increase scrotal temperature, which could cause Semen cramps.
• Do Regular Exercises: Regular exercise will help reduce muscle tension in the pelvic area.
• Avoid Alcohol and cigars: Both habits can harm ejaculatory production and its functions. By avoiding the intake of this, the chance of reducing sperm cramps is possible, and it also makes sperm functions healthy.
• Deal with stress: Stress-reducing techniques can be used to deal with your stress and reduce the chance of getting semen cramps. This also plays a crucial role in reducing muscle tension.
• Consult healthcare providers: The best way is to consult healthcare providers for medical advice. That can help you identify the severity of the cramps and get recommended advice based on your severity.

Takeaway

Sperm cramps can disturb your life. So, never make a mistake without consulting the healthcare provider for sperm cramps. Contact us to get relief from sperm cramps with the help of expert medical advice and diagnosis.